The exact spelling appears at position 8,487 in the cited OpenSubtitles-derived Dutch 50k token list. That is a corpus signal, not search volume, CEFR level or proof that the noun sense is equally frequent. Article, forms, glosses, pronunciation and examples are adapted from English Wiktionary via Kaikki under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources and modifications.
How lo is pronounced
No IPA value is reproduced for this entry. Check a current native-speaker recording before copying the pronunciation.
Say the article and noun together—de lo—before practising the word in a sentence. This keeps grammatical gender attached to the item you retrieve. Regional speech and sentence rhythm can change the surface sound, so use the transcription as a compact reference rather than as a substitute for listening.
What lo means
matrilineal clan within a Maroon tribe
Dictionary label: Suriname, feminine, no-diminutive
An English gloss identifies a sense, not a one-word substitution that works in every context. Look at the surrounding verb, preposition, number and situation in the Dutch example. When several meanings are listed, practise one meaning at a time and state a concrete context before changing to another sense.
Article, plural and diminutive
| Form | Dutch | Speaking use |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | de lo | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de lo's | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn de lo as a single unit, then contrast it with de lo's. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with lo
Stefanus Poeketi, kapitein van Dawme en voorzitter van de ‘Twaalfoe Lo’, stelde dat de functie van granman niet uitsluitend door één lo zal worden uitgeoefend. Hij kondigde aan dat notarieel vastgelegd zal worden dat het ‘granmanschap’ gaat rouleren onder de twaalf lo’s van de Saramaccaanse stam.
Stefanus Poeketi, village chief of Dawme and chairman of the 'Twaalfoe Lo', stated that the position of paramount chief will not be held exclusively by one clan. He announced that it will be notarially certified that the 'paramount chieftaincy' will rotate among the twelve clans of the Saramaccan tribe.
These examples are citation-backed language data. First identify what the noun refers to and which words determine or describe it. Then change only one element—person, quantity, time, place or description—while keeping the article and number consistent. That small variation turns a reference example into active speaking practice without inventing a rule from one sentence.
Four-step speaking drill
- Say de lo three times, then add one adjective or location that fits the first meaning.
- Build a present-tense sentence with a named person, a concrete place and the singular noun.
- Change the message to de lo's. Update the number, determiner and finite verb instead of replacing only the noun ending.
- Ask a follow-up question containing the noun, record the answer, and repeat once with a different detail.
Listen first for meaning and article choice, then for sentence order and pronunciation. Correct the first error that changes the message or blocks the listener. Avoid restarting for every small hesitation: complete the message, note one target, and make the second recording more precise.
Self-check before you continue
- I retrieve de lo as one chunk.
- The singular or plural matches the determiner, quantity and verb.
- The selected meaning fits the situation.
- The sentence includes enough detail for another person to understand the reference.
- I can ask and answer one question with the noun without reading the page.
Questions about lo
What does lo mean?
matrilineal clan within a Maroon tribe.
Is it de lo or het lo?
The cited entry uses de lo. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of lo?
The cited plural is lo's. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use lo in a recorded response
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